Family and Education

b. 28 May 1596,1 o.s. of Sir Vincent Skinner* of Thornton College, and his 2nd w. Elizabeth, da. of Robert Fowkes† of Symondsbury, Dorset, wid. of Henry Middlemore of Enfield, Mdx.2 educ. L. Inn 1613-16.3 m. 1613, Bridget (d.1653), da. of Sir Edward Coke* of the I. Temple, London, and Stoke Poges, Bucks., wid. of William Berney of Reedham, Norf., 3s. (1 posth.) 4da. (1 d.v.p.).4 suc. fa. 1616.5 d. 7 Aug. 1627.6

Offices Held

Recvr. duchy of Lancaster’s lands, Lincs. (jt.) 1606-14;7 commr. sewers, river Gleane, Lincs. and Notts. 1619-25.8

Biography

As a student Skinner inhabited his father’s chambers at Lincoln’s Inn while the latter languished in a Holborn debtor’s prison. He made a fortunate marriage to the daughter of Sir Edward Coke, but declined to follow either his father or eminent father-in-law into public life; in 1614, before he came of age, he assigned his joint-receivership in the duchy of Lancaster to Sir Thomas Monson*. Still a minor when his father died, Skinner evaded responsibility for Sir Vincent’s debts by refusing to accept administration of the estate.9 He was returned to the second Caroline Parliament for Great Grimsby, about ten miles from his home at Thornton. His only committee appointment was to consider a private bill for the restitution of Carew Ralegh† (24 Mar. 1626).10 Skinner died on 7 Aug. 1627, aged 32, and was buried at Thornton Curtis.11 In his will, dated 3 Aug., he left the residue of his estate after payment of debts to be equally divided between his younger children, having already made provision for his eldest son.12 None of his descendants entered Parliament.

Ref Volumes: 1604-1629

Authors: Paula Watson / Rosemary Sgroi

Notes

• 1. C142/356/134.
• 2. Lincs. Peds. (Harl. Soc. lii), 888; N and Q, n.s. ccix. 164-5.
• 3. LI Admiss.
• 4. Vis. Norf. (Harl. Soc. xxxii), 17; Misc. Gen. et Her. n.s. i. 177.
• 5. C142/356/134.
• 6. C142/437/104.
• 7. Duchy of Lancaster Office-Holders ed. R. Somerville, 188.
• 8. C181/2, f. 354; 181/3, f. 170.
• 9. C.W. James, Chief Justice Coke, 69-77.
• 10. Procs. 1626, ii. 356.
• 11. C142/437/104; W. Monson, Lincs. Church Notes (Lincoln Rec. Soc. xxxi), 379-80.
• 12. PROB 11/153, f. 84v.